Marilee Salvator

Marilee Salvator exhibits lithography in a show titled “Uncontrolled Growth” at the University of Phoenix Gallery from November 21, 2011 – February 15, 2012.

 The body of work, Uncontrolled Growth, draws inspiration from repetitive mark making, biological forms and plant life.  It is a formal exploration of shape and pattern.  Salvator is fascinated by nature and biology.  Cells are of particular interest to her.  She is intrigued by their ability to reproduce, mutate and spread uncontrollably.  To the untrained eye, cells can be seen as beautiful forms/shapes, interesting patterns.  However, to a specialist these forms mean so much more including the spread of unwanted disease and death.  I find it fascinating how something so detrimental as cancer, can look so beautiful under a microscope .  In our world, things often appear one way, but upon closer examination, are completely different.

Salvator removes the patterns of these forms and or shapes from their current context and incorporates them into her own abstract language.  The most important image making process she employs is layering.  Layering allows the work to slowly reveal itself.  She admires the beauty of transparency and rich textural surfaces created through the process.

Marilee Salvator’s work has been exhibited in over 70 solo and group exhibitions throughout North America, South Korea, China, Poland, Italy and Romania.

She has taught printmaking and design at University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB and is currently an Assistant Professor at Bloomsburg University.

Marilee Salvator received her BFA from Illinois State University, Normal, IL in 2000 and her MFA degree from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM in 2004.